Lol. Yeah. I recall that era. Gary divorces his wife to marry Marilyn. Frankly, i never understood the appeal Gary Hargrave (or was 'grove). He struck me more as a man in gray flannel suit-type than spiritual. An organization guy who sought organizational power. A true authoritarian. Recall that he came out of Coniah in San Diego area. I never detected more than a modicum of "spirituali
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Have you considered the ordeal of Job? God had him suffer on a lark, on a bet with the Satan. It is a terrifying thing, wrote St. Paul, to fall into the hands of the living God. Meanwhile, 8 or 9 years involvement is plenty of active time in any religious/ideological movement or organization. A person is well steeped in any pattern and/or repetition of its concrete praxis, values, and social pra
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I left the Living Word movement/ministry in a gradual, progressive fashion, long ago. It began at the time RD was fighting with Living Word, Inc., for rights to Coniah property and interests. They were in litigation of some kind. I recall receiving mail asking for receipts of our contributions and our position etc. I supplied neither, nor did i ever take a tax reduction. We were in our 20s, marri
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Reep, you can pick away in imitation analysis, dissection, or deconstruction of my texts and my positions. But here's the thing, YOUR view, opinions, judgments are not dispositive of anything, other than what you subjectively believe was/is the case back then. Equally, you seek to conflate and restrict my experience of the apostolic ministry to feelings, as though "feelings" were s
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

That you believe you were deceived only means that you were a part of the socio-religious fabric of life in the United States in the last quarter of the 20th century. Welcome to your life. Everybody wants to rule the world. I'm wondering how much of your approach to the prophecies over you -- victimized you? I, too, had prophetic words spoken over me, most of which I did not comprehend and
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The evidence, as i cited, evidence i should add that is universally recognized, is my life and the progressive transformation of my day-to-day existence --- that has never ceased. An ever deepening participation in resurrection life and new being. New creation, a renewed mind and, most of all, a new heart. To say nothing of keeping my young butt humble while I continued to pursue & seek the t
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I received a new being and the kingdom of God via the Lordship and faithfulness of Jesus the Christ. Did the Walk do a number on the psychology of my being? Probably, but I had a decent education and there was plenty of literature out there, especially the historical materials, to otherwise develop and fortify a critical appreciation of God's plan and the Messianic ministry of Jesus and the
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Changedagain...you are awfully bitter and smug in your assessment of the apostolic ministry of JRS. Even if he was a charismatic ego (whatever that psychologically entailed) he also was an authentic apostolic vessel of Christ's spirit. And I, for one, twice underwent a direct experience of it, and it was spiritually circumcising to my heart and full of tranformative grace. I'm truly sa
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

All this lamenting about the Apostolic ministry of John Robert Stevens. Regrets that you opened yourselves to the charismatic ecstasy of the living word flowing through him back then, especially in the late 60s and early 70s. JRS carried, indeed incarnated, the presence of Christ. Was the apostolic movement a perfectly organized religious operation or corporation? No. Was it efficiently operated
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

All this bellyaching about the Apostolic ministry of John Robert Stevens. Regrets that you opened yourselves to the charismatic ecstasy of the living word flowing through him back then, especially in the late 60s and early 70s. JRS carried, indeed incarnated, the presence of Christ. Was the apostolic movement a perfectly organized religious operation or corporation? No. Was it efficiently operat
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I have been watching shepherds chapel for the last 2 years and have gotten some good out of it. Although I have not swallowed the doctrine hook, line and sinker I have always felt that Pator Murray was sincere in his beliefs and teachings. I have since come across the oracles of God website and listened to some recordings where Pastor Murray refers to the People of Israel as kenites and the Jewis
Forum: Destructive Churches